Probe measurements of electron energy distribution function at intermediate and high pressures and in a magnetic field

A kinetic theory for the electron probe current is presented. The results allow us to infer the electron energy distribution function from the measured electron probe current and its derivatives over a wide range of pressures and magnetic fields. To recover the electron energy distribution function from probe characteristics two numerical methods are proposed. Probe measurements in a rare gas afterglow plasma were carried out over a wide pressure and energy range. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory developed in the paper.